Propagation of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi genus in durian rhizosphere soil using different host plants

This study aimed to identify suitable host plants for propagating Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) commonly found in durian rhizosphere soil in Cai Lay district, Tien Giang province. Durian root and rhizosphere soil samples were collected from orchards aged over 15 years post-harvest, where no fertilizer was applied for the subsequent season, and the predominant genus of AMF was selected for propagation. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) in a greenhouse, comprising four treatments, including three different host plants (Durio zibethinus Murr. - durian, Zea mays - maize, Sorghum sp. - sorghum), and a control treatment without a host plant. The results indicated that Glomus was the predominant genus of AMF in the durian rhizosphere soil, characterized by globose to subglobose spores with a smooth surface, ranging in color from light yellow to orange and yellow-brown, and a spore diameter ranging from 45 to 110 µm with 2 to 3 layers of spore wall. Overall, there was no significant difference in spore characteristics after one propagation cycle. The experiment suggested that maize and sorghum were suitable host plants for propagating the Glomus genus in durian rhizosphere soil, with AMF colonized root percentages of 87.79 and 93.93%, respectively. Notably, sorghum exhibited the highest increase in spore production, with the number of spores increasing by up to 66.16 times compared to before the experiment.